Ayesha who? asks Hema

Much like the gutsy taangewali of Sholay, the real life Basanti has come to Veeru's rescue against the Gabbar gang "out to malign him".

BJP campaigner and filmstar Hema Malini denied on Sunday she had ever changed her name to marry actor Dharmendra. Dharmendra is the BJP's star candidate in Rajasthan's Jat-heavy Bikaner constituency.

"Ayesha who?" she shot back when asked about the name she had allegedly adopted to get married to Dharmendra in accordance with the Shariat law on May 2, 1980. According to a petition filed in an Indore court, Dharmendra and Hema embraced Islam to get married, subsequently changing their names to Dilawar Khan and Ayesha Bi.

But why did Dharmendra not mention her in the affidavit as his second wife? "This is something very personal between us and we'll sort it out ourselves. Don't bother to get into it."